The room that councillors have their meetings in could soon be known as something other than the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Meeting Centre.
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Councillor Gil Kelly has announced he’ll be looking to have the rooms named after former Cootamundra resident and politician, the late Alby Schultz.
Cr Kelly’s motion proposes the centre be known as the Alby Schultz Meeting Centre.
He said the proposal wasn’t without precedent, citing the dedication of the Stephen Ward Rooms and Max Whitteron Reflective Garden.
While he first arrived in Cootamundra to run the abattoir in the 1980s, he was soon more than a businessman.
Mr Schultz was first elected to Cootamundra Shire Council in 1983 and he was elected to state parliament as the Member for Burrinjuck in 1988.
He was elected as the federal Member for Hume in 1998 and held the seat until the 2013 federal election, where he retired.
“He helped the residents of Cootamundra enormously and a lot of the work has been unnoticed by residents,” Cr Kelly said.
That help might have just been using his considerable knowledge to connect people with services and arguing to ensure the town received its fair share.
“He always had the best interests of Cootamundra at heart,” Cr Kelly said.
Cr Kelly said Mr Schultz had always worked with and supported the community.
“You only have to look at the people who attended his funeral, the PM, the DPM, Speaker of the House and representatives from all sides of parliament,” he said, “that shows the character of the man."
Cr Kelly said renaming council’s meeting centre was a “fitting tribute because he started his political career at the Cootamundra Shire Council”.
Cr Kelly's motion will be discussed by councillors on May 22.